Aberdeen: What has gone improper for Jimmy Thelin’s facet as record-breaking begin turns right into a 10-game winless run? | Soccer Information

In November, Aberdeen followers have been daring to dream a couple of title tilt. Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten facet had received 10 of their first 11 league matches and have been joint-top of the Scottish Premiership.

Nevertheless, the stuff of desires quickly became a nightmare run. Since their 4-1 victory towards Dundee, the Dons haven’t received a match. Seven defeats of their final 10 outings has seen the membership drop to fourth within the desk and fall 22 factors behind Celtic.

Each fan and Thelin himself would have anticipated a bump or two within the street at some stage, however nobody would have imagined such a dramatic drop-off in outcomes – so what has gone improper at Pittodrie?

Sunday twelfth January 2:30pm


Kick off 3:00pm

One among: damage woes, defensive points or a scarcity of targets can be a problem for many groups – however the Dons appear to be experiencing all three, leaving Thelin with “issues” to unravel.

Thelin: We have now to enhance

Even when the Dons have been demolishing all that got here of their path, they have been nonetheless failing to maintain clear sheets. Simply three got here throughout that unbeaten league run and none have adopted since.

As soon as high goalscorer on the time Pape Gueye was dominated out with damage and the common move of targets from Jamie McGrath, Kevin Nisbet, Topi Keskinen and co stopped – these defensive woes have been highlighted, as was the shortage of a cutting-edge up-front.

Aberdeen – who bought prolific striker Bojan Miovski for £6.8m in the summertime – have had extra of the ball of their final 10 video games in comparison with their first 10 however have created fewer clear-cut probabilities, scored fewer targets and never received any matches.

Added to that he is obtained some huge accidents to cope with. Gavin Molloy, Vicente Besuijen, Ester Sokler and Dimitar Mitov have all joined Gueye on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, Thelin – who has been within the job for six months – is refusing to panic regardless of their poor type.

“It is soccer, generally we’ve some issues we’ve to unravel – within the staff, in our sport, and in our efficiency,” he informed Sky Sports activities Information forward of dealing with Hearts on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities.

“We have now to enhance. Even after we have been profitable video games we noticed some issues we’ve to enhance in the long term to be a steady, constant staff to struggle for the European spot.

“Then we get some accidents, however nonetheless I believe we’ve a great squad and it may additionally give a chance to different gamers.

“I did not anticipate to not lose in 11 video games, and I did not anticipate to not win in 10 video games so we’ve to seek out the steadiness there, attempt to get higher, maintain believing in what we’re doing and do not lose sight of the long run.

“You should attempt to disguise your weak spot and present extra of your strengths. We have now some components that we’ve to enhance as a staff and as a collective.”

January signings to spice up the squad?

Thelin has been fast so as to add to his group within the January switch window, with winger Jeppe Okkels and Kristers Tobers arriving and extra may observe.

“You at all times have an ambition to enhance the staff,” he added. “It may be via coaching. The time will assist the gamers to develop to be higher.

“Additionally generally you want recruitment to seek out the precise profile, so I believe it is a unending story. You at all times must attempt to get higher each week in coaching, but in addition construct a staff for the long run with recruitment.

“Okkels I do know from the previous after all. He is a great winger, he has capability to run rather a lot and may go behind the again line. Tobers has good management and can also be good on the ball, however he also can assist different gamers to develop.”

What’s the view from the stands?

Talking to Sky Sports activities, Aberdeen fan Gary Scott from the ABZ Soccer Podcast mentioned:

“What you see now’s a staff who’re shorn of confidence and perception and that’s manifesting itself in performances and outcomes.

“What we noticed initially of the season was outcomes overlaying up apparent deficiencies within the squad and staff.

“We have been nonetheless conceding foolish targets initially of the season throughout that profitable run nevertheless it was glossed over as a result of we have been profitable. It is just pure to get caught up within the fanfare however now scoring targets has dried up too.

“It comes all the way down to high-quality margins in video games. On this 10-game run we’ve been on high in some matches however didn’t convert after which there was a spell when the opposition is in management and so they make us pay.

“We’re not taking probabilities and nonetheless transport silly targets. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, from second to twelfth this league is aggressive and you’ll not get factors should you do not take probabilities.

“I believe Thelin knew all alongside how huge a problem he confronted when he got here into the membership in the summertime. If nothing else, the final 10 video games have crystalised that for him. He’ll know who the characters are with the mentality to deal with the calls for. He’ll now know who will probably be on the journey that we’ve all heard about.

“Trying on the larger image, initially of this season I’d have taken a cushty top-six end as an indication of progress. Because it stands now, each fan would have taken being joint with third place and the Scottish Cup to return.

“It turns into galling when it opens up for you. There’s Rangers who seem like they need to reward second spot away however we shoot ourselves within the foot. Nevertheless, we’d all have accepted this begin have been it supplied to us in the summertime. Hopefully, we will get again to profitable methods and proceed to enhance the squad in January.”